Popular Post Jinjo14 Posted September 10, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted September 10, 2014 Went to transport department today to check what exactly was needed to get a thai DL. I have a valid DL from my country which allows me to drive in European countries. When I showed my DL I was ushered in the boss's office where she asked me for proof of address. I remembered that in my car had copies of two oaths from witnesses proving my address which I had used to obtain my extension of stay. She sent me to get a medical certificate which I returned with within the hour. In all I presented: 1 copy of DL 2 copy of passport (face and last entry) 3 copy of tabien baan 4 copy of id wife (thai) 4 copy of witnesses' oaths I took: Colour blindness test (learn red, green, yellow and blue in Thai - not too hard and you win many points if you make the effort) Reflex test (remember to use right foot for both pedals - not same the guy in front me) Depth perception test (just pulling 2 strings to adjust two pegs moving in different directons) 205฿ and two photos later I was the proud owner of a thai DL valid for a year. Success! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgrahmm Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 I enjoy the land office here - especially compared with the California DMV experience....... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eeeya Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 when i went recently, the reflex machine was broken, no colour blindness test. the depth perception machine is confusing. until i worked out that one peg is stationary and the other has to be moved next to it.. all in all a very high tech experience. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukrules Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 I got a one year driving license based on my UK license last December. I needed a medical certificate and certificate of residence which I got from immigration. I did no tests at all, I just handed over the paperwork and they came out with a new driving license about 10 minutes later. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metapod Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 I got a one year driving license based on my UK license last December. I needed a medical certificate and certificate of residence which I got from immigration. I did no tests at all, I just handed over the paperwork and they came out with a new driving license about 10 minutes later. Where was that at? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vacuum Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Congrats to your Thai DL Jinjo14. Now all you have to do is learning how to drive in Thailand. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jinjo14 Posted September 11, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted September 11, 2014 Cheers have been driving here for the past year or so ... Back home we drive on left side too and we have our share of manic drivers so all is well... Only time I shat myself when I had to go to bangkok and my phone died (was using google maps) - after 3 hours driving around in circles and paying tolls I gave up and parked inside a bank. Found a taxi and paid him to follow him to hotel .... I will never ever attempt to drive in bangkok again that's for sure! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jobin Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Who wants to drive in T'land? The DL can get you a discount at the golf course, other places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukrules Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I got a one year driving license based on my UK license last December. I needed a medical certificate and certificate of residence which I got from immigration. I did no tests at all, I just handed over the paperwork and they came out with a new driving license about 10 minutes later. Where was that at? Just outside Cha Am Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace of Pop Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Rare indeed unless an envelope was passed over.Would worry me in case of a serious event, and it was proven procedure was breached.Insurance Invalid etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattaya Pat Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 You are my new hero. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanLaew Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 (edited) Since there are (maybe) about 3208 Land Transport Offices in Thailand, beyond the personal feel good, the value to others of the OP's post is somewhat diminished. Edited September 12, 2014 by NanLaew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironbark Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Goodness me, all those physical tests, and nothing about road rules. No wonder Thailand has one of the highest accident rates. (250 / 100 000 km compared to say Aust with 7 / 100 000 km ) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fvw53 Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 was your foreign driving licence the national one (i.e. only in your own language) or an international one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitti Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 I enjoy the land office here - especially compared with the California DMV experience....... Yeah, among them, in my opinion, the absolute worst one is DMV at downtown L.A. Even with an appointment, they still make you wait for eternity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eaglekott Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 (edited) If you go to Land and Transport in Bangkok make sure to go there late, around 15.00. Latest time to hand in your documents is 15.30. Then there is almost no people there and getting the driving license is done within the hour. If you go there early around opening or before lunch you may need to stay until 14.00-15.00 mostly waiting in hue for tests, que for photo As a swede I presented, Copy of Driving License (And a translation to English from the embassy since I had no international translation) Copy of work permit Copy of Visa Doctor certificate, a 50 baht one is good, Got two different licenses one for Car one for Bike. First time one year validity, and after one year 5 year. Colour blind test in English, and no problem with English in the other tests also. (If the light i greenish, then it is yellow. My friend mistook Yellow for green until he saw the green that is really green.) Reaction test. Depth perception test, with two buttons, first you have to un-align them, move stick back or forward until aligned. (Tip, when/if you un-align them, press back button for 3 sec, and then forward the same time and they are back aligned again Colour seeing test peripheral vision, look at a yellow dot in front of you and say what colour that gets lit on the sides. Simple easy, and fast in the afternoon. Edited September 12, 2014 by Eaglekott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Aleman Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Not premature to make out your Will ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eaglekott Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 (edited) Goodness me, all those physical tests, and nothing about road rules. No wonder Thailand has one of the highest accident rates. (250 / 100 000 km compared to say Aust with 7 / 100 000 km ) If you have a foreign Driving License you do not need to do the test for road rules, but if you do not have a DL since before you have to do a theoretical test, and a driving test. For me Thailand has harder rules to extend your driving license then Sweden. In Sweden you send in a new picture and your signature and you get your new DL. Here you have to do the physical test to have your license renewed. If you fail the tests, -no driving license. In Sweden we often see old men out driving, that can barley see to the steering wheel, and probably with a reaction time of 5 minutes... BTW not all foreign DL is acceptable for a change into Thai. Ministry of Land and Transport has a list of countries from which the DL is accepted. Edited September 12, 2014 by Eaglekott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eaglekott Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 was your foreign driving licence the national one (i.e. only in your own language) or an international one? You need a native DL in english, or you need an international translation to english, or a translation from your embassy or accredited translation company into english (or Thai) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterb17 Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 For Heaven's sake, is this the same as receiving a Nobel prize, maybe training as an astronaut and landing on the moon. Most of us have a Thai driving license- its not a big deal- sorry. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eaglekott Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 (edited) Who wants to drive in T'land? The DL can get you a discount at the golf course, other places. If you have one you do not need to carry your passport all the time. I rather loose a Thai DL than my passport. And it is great every time you need to identify yourself. Also if you rent a moped on, lets say Koh Chang, the insurance actually work. With out a Thai DL, insurance might be void in case of an accident. And I drive a lot in Bangkok I like it. Edited September 12, 2014 by Eaglekott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jobin Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Hmmm. That is good to know Eaglekott. I will try here in CM for mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonlover Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Interesting to read this and I’m grateful to the OP. As he said that he had already been driving in LOS for a year, I’m assuming that there is a period of grace in which one can drive on one’s DL from country of origin. Am I right about that? I’m coming to Thailand next month on a non O visa, with the intension of applying of an extension on retirement. I have a British license and I’m hopeful that I can get driving straight away. I am in agreement with having to have a medical certificate. I once witnessed an old man drive straight through a level crossing barrier into the side of a train! He was 75 years old and clearly not with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinjo14 Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 was your foreign driving licence the national one (i.e. only in your own language) or an international one? The national one but permits me to drive within Europe ... I just went to ask what's needed as live near and with copies of documents I had in car (from applying for extension last month) I got it there and then ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eaglekott Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Interesting to read this and I’m grateful to the OP. As he said that he had already been driving in LOS for a year, I’m assuming that there is a period of grace in which one can drive on one’s DL from country of origin. Am I right about that? I’m coming to Thailand next month on a non O visa, with the intension of applying of an extension on retirement. I have a British license and I’m hopeful that I can get driving straight away. I am in agreement with having to have a medical certificate. I once witnessed an old man drive straight through a level crossing barrier into the side of a train! He was 75 years old and clearly not with it. Yes you can drive in Thailand for one year on your european driving license, probably longer, BUT... you can NOT rely on that the insurance is valid. The fine print in almost every rental agreement or insurance for a car or bike probably states the you must have a valid Thai driving license for the insurance to be valid. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinjo14 Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 Not premature to make out your Will ! Hope not ... I'm just turned 31 lol ... I would go crazy without a car in thailand. I would go crazy without a car anywhere period! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinjo14 Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 Not premature to make out your Will ! Hope not ... I'm just turned 31 lol ... I would go crazy without a car in thailand. I would go crazy without a car anywhere period! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wabothai Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 I was told to sit in the dmv office for 4 hours and of course with the necessary paperwork incl work permit. It seems to me that each office makes up its own rules, as usual. For prove of address i have to make a far trip to bangkok to the embassy. The only good drivers seem to be farangs. Why make it so hard on us ? Gr...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonlover Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Interesting to read this and I’m grateful to the OP. As he said that he had already been driving in LOS for a year, I’m assuming that there is a period of grace in which one can drive on one’s DL from country of origin. Am I right about that? I’m coming to Thailand next month on a non O visa, with the intension of applying of an extension on retirement. I have a British license and I’m hopeful that I can get driving straight away. I am in agreement with having to have a medical certificate. I once witnessed an old man drive straight through a level crossing barrier into the side of a train! He was 75 years old and clearly not with it. Yes you can drive in Thailand for one year on your european driving license, probably longer, BUT... you can NOT rely on that the insurance is valid. The fine print in almost every rental agreement or insurance for a car or bike probably states the you must have a valid Thai driving license for the insurance to be valid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonlover Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Thanks for tip, especially the advise about insurance. I've hired cars in many different countries over the years using my UK licence and never had any issues regarding insurance cover. But I will look closely at this aspect before I buy or hire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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